Investigating anger in a metacognitive model of problematic pornography use: preliminary findings

Abstract

Pornography represents a prevalent and easily accessible form of media which, if consumed in excess, may contribute to personal distress and impaired functioning. Problematic pornography users may experience craving for sexually explicit material and research supports the conceptualization of craving within a metacognitive framework. That is, the escalation of craving is believed to be a result of desire thinking and metacognition. While a recurrent emotional problem associated with pornography is anger, the potential influence of desire thinking and metacognition concerning anger remains unclear. Theoretically, environmental cues trigger positive metacognitions that drive desire thinking, resulting in negative affect, craving, and negative metacognitions. Path analyses were used to evaluate relationships among theoretical constructs in a sample of 191 participants. Congruent with past research, the existence of metacognitive and cognitive processes in the escalation of craving was supported while reinforcing that positive metacognitions and the verbal perseveration component of desire thinking influence anger; metacognitive psychotherapy may be beneficial for managing this form of behaviour.